The federal lawsuit that sought to stop the demolition of City Hall was dismissed Thursday after a judge ruled the case was not a matter on which the federal courts could rule, according to court records.

U.S. District Judge David Guaderrama dismissed the suit, and he added that all pending motions in the case are now moot.

In his ruling, Guaderrama said the suit's underlying current was the plaintiffs' concern of a "tainted political process" on which the federal courts could not comment. Given that the court's role is to rule on the law within its jurisdiction, the court "will not expound on (the city's) decision to construct a ballpark or demolish City Hall," the ruling states.

In October, former city Mayor Ray Salazar and others filed a lawsuit against the city in federal court asking that the demolition of City Hall be stopped. The civil lawsuit claimed their voting rights had been violated when the city didn't allow the public to vote on whether to tear down the building and construct a ballpark in its place.

Neither city officials nor Fernando Chacon, the attorney for the plaintiffs, returned calls for comment Thursday.

The plaintiffs had asked for an injunction to stop City Hall from being torn down and to allow time for a petition to be certified or rejected by the city clerk. A petition, the second to be filed asking that the issue be taken to voters, was filed on Oct. 30. That petition was certified on Thursday by the city clerk.

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In Thursday's ruling, Guaderrama said the right to an initiative or referendum is not a federally guaranteed right, but a fight afforded to voters by the state Legislature; therefore, it is not a matter for the federal court to consider.

The lawsuit was filed against the city of El Paso, Mayor John Cook, City Manager Joyce Wilson and city Reps. Cortney Niland, Steve Ortega, Ann Morgan Lilly, Dr. Michiel Noe and Susie Byrd, who supported building the ballpark where City Hall and the El Paso Insights Science Center now stand.

In its request for dismissal, the city said the suit lacked standing, calling it "irrelevant political rhetoric and hyperbole." The city argued that it did not break any federal laws when it voted to tear down City Hall and build the ballpark in its place.

MountainStar Sports Group, the local investors who now own the Tucson Padres minor league baseball team, had intervened in the lawsuit. In court documents, MountainStar stated that the plaintiffs have failed to state a valid claim that their voting rights were violated and that they will suffer irreparable harm without the injunctive relief.

In a statement Thursday, MountainStar President Alan Ledford said the group appreciates the judge's "careful consideration of the case, and we are pleased with the dismissal."

Ledford added that the group will continue to focus on "creating a first-class, Triple-A ballpark for El Paso."

The city in June agreed to build the ballpark at the site if MountainStar acquired a Triple-A minor league team, and in September the council approved a contract with the group for the lease of what will be a city-owned ballpark. The group in October completed the purchase of the Tucson Padres, who are expected to begin playing in El Paso in April 2014.

In the Nov. 6 general election, voters approved designating the ballpark as a sports venue and increasing the city's hotel occupancy tax to pay for the majority of its construction. The measure passed with overwhelming support.

Last week, some city employees began relocating their offices in the shuffle to move about 650 workers out of City Hall. The Insights El Paso Science Center announced last week that it will close its doors by Dec. 15.